The First “R

Tests given in 1955 to ninth grade pupils in the city of Washington showed that 62 per cent of the pupils were one to six years behind the ninth-grade reading level. Tests in New York City for the same year revealed that 55 per cent of the ninth-grade pupils were one to six years behind normal reading ability.

With these figures came a statement from New York City’s Superintendent of Schools: “There was nothing startling in the findings. In no event should they be construed as an indictment of the methods used in teaching reading in the elementary grades.”

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Abe Kalish

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Tests given in 1955 to ninth grade pupils in the city of Washington showed that 62 per cent of the pupils were one to six years behind the ninth-grade reading level. Tests in New York City for the same year revealed that 55 per cent of the ninth-grade pupils were one to six years behind normal reading ability.

With these figures came a statement from New York City’s Superintendent of Schools: “There was nothing startling in the findings. In no event should they be construed as an indictment of the methods used in teaching reading in the elementary grades.”